Ben Cunnington

Recruited from the Geelong Falcons with pick 5 in the 2009 National Draft, Ben Cunnington evolved from a quiet country recruit into the rugged heartbeat of North Melbourne's midfield. Renowned for his extraordinary core strength and arguably the most effective "don't argue" fend-off in the competition, he flourished as a pure inside midfielder who excelled at extracting the ball from heavy traffic. His ability to execute clean handballs while being tackled made him a clearance specialist, and his consistency was rewarded with two Syd Barker Medals. Throughout the 2010s, Cunnington was instrumental in the Kangaroos' finals campaigns, providing the grit required to compete against the premier midfields of the era.

The latter stages of Cunnington's career were defined by his courageous battle with testicular cancer, diagnosed in mid-2021. After surgery and a subsequent bout of chemotherapy, he missed nearly 12 months of football before making an emotional return against Adelaide late in the 2022 season. Although he played on into 2023 to provide on-field leadership to a young rebuilding squad, he eventually announced his retirement late that year. He departed Arden Street as a one-club player and a revered figure, celebrated not just for his contested ball dominance but for the resilience and uncompromising toughness he brought to the contest for over a decade.